Mustard's Eatery & Bar is the newest Pittsford canal eatery, located in the former Schoen Place Prime Rib and Grill location. This Napa-style restaurant offers a formal menu in a relaxed, casual atmosphere with warm oak floors and wicker furniture that bring to mind the sunny West Coast. The waterside eatery is open for lunch and dinner, and executive chef Keith King has created a simple, yet flavorful menu with a refreshing lack of heavy sauces. The menus are neatly segmented by "plates." You can get a small plate and enjoy a tapas-style experience; a green plate to get your salad fix; or a large plate for a more traditional entree. Menu highlights include the lobster mac & cheese and the clams Remick gratin.

Owners Nick and Gayle Mourgides, who also own Olive's across the street, fell in love with the California wine country and wanted to bring some of that flavor back east. Gayle says she wanted an atmosphere that is earthy without being "country." To that end, the eatery will highlight California wines, beers, and spirits that will pair nicely with dishes that use herbs directly picked from the gardens around the patio.

Mustard's is located at 50 State Street in Pittsford. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., with dinner service starting at 5 p.m.; and Sunday 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. For more information call 267-7500 or visit mustardsonthecanal.com.

New Mings

Good news for the Upper Monroe neighborhood: your local noodle place is back, with some dramatic changes to the menu. No longer just a close replica of the original Mings on South Clinton, New Mings has incorporated Vietnamese and Thai favorites such as pho, lemongrass chicken, and masamun. Reopened on June 20, New Ming's is still a family affair, with Karen Poon, sister of the original Mings owner, as the acting manager. The decor is updated, including new furniture and fresh paint, along with stylized dishes to create more of a feast for the eyes. We recently tasted the panang, which is braised chicken in a dry curry sauce, coconut milk, and vegetables. It was billed as spicy, and indeed it was - deliciously so! The phat Thai also pleased with an excellent balance of sweet, spicy, and salty, with crisp bean sprouts as a garnish and a generous slice of lime to spray over the colorful dish. A beer and wine menu is planned for the near future.

New Mings is located at 1132 Monroe Avenue, and is open Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Call 271-7267 or visit http://newming.net.

Quick bites

The village of Fairport has been steadily increasing the number of restaurants in its quaint canal area, and now Cappuccino Italiano will join the ranks. A call to the former Park Ave restaurant's new number revealed that it is still in the remodeling phase, and the plan is to open after the July 4 holiday. The eatery will occupy the previous Ristorante Grappa location and continue to serve high-quality coffee and Italian fare. (145 North Main Street, Fairport; 377-0940)

On June 12, I Scream, located at 1683 Mount Hope Avenue, was closed by the Department of Health. I Scream was known for its thick milkshakes, homemade toppings, and inventive ice cream flavors like coffee mudpie and banana peanut butter. No further information is available about whether we can expect a re-opening soon.

A new restaurant addition that may help ease city-dwellers' ice cream cravings is Roman Holiday Gelato, opening soon at 747 Park Avenue, next to Wine Sense. Housed in the former Cheese Shop, we can't wait to see how a pairing of gelato and wine will taste. Check back here for more details.

In Limbo

Over the past few months, Rochesterians have been waiting patiently for three local restaurants to re-open. To date, we have not seen them re-emerge, and inquiring minds want to know if they will. TijuanaTokyo's was a popular downtown lunch spot on State Street; the menu contained everything from exotic smoothies to California-style wraps. We really want to know where this new location is going to be, and when it will open. Portabello Ristorante on West Henrietta Road closed for renovations earlier this year, with the expectation that it would re-open shortly after. Without any successful contact with the owners, the Chow Hound wonders if we will again be able to enjoy dishes that so generously featured the namesake ingredient, along with the restaurant's unique understanding of a gluten-free diet. Organic Alley filled the green niche in Pittsford until a flood closed down operations. The website provides some information regarding a desire to relocate to a new spot, but no recent updates and a lack of e-mail response have us concerned. Area residents enjoyed the yoga/food combination and would welcome its return.

If you have updates on any of these eateries, or tips or questions for the Chow Hound, e-mail food@rochester-citynews.com.